4th Grade Judaics Blog

Shalom!

So far, in our Shalom Learning curriculum for 4th grade, the students saw scenes from films (such as Tangled and The Wizard of Oz). We also heard the melodies of different songs, such as the Israel national anthem, HaTikvah, and even had a few art projects. All have been connected to important Jewish values in an age-appropriate manner. At the time of the High Holidays, the students learned about the concept of T’shuvah, which focuses on taking responsibility for one’s actions through repentance. They also learned that the inner pull to do the right thing is called Yetzer HaTov, and the inclination to do bad things is called Yetzer HaRah. And we talked about the times when we seemed pulled away from things we’re supposed to do (like homework) toward something we might rather do (like watch TV). Procrastination is part of our Yetzer HaRah. The Torah tells us that human beings were created b’tzelem Elohim in the image of G-d. We explored the possible meanings of the phrase, even as the students learned the prayer that thanks God for giving us healthy, well-functioning bodies. Gevurah often refers to the value of having inner strength. The students came to realize that in a world where “selfies” abound, it is important to focus on the needs of others-- in this way we can act in a way that how we are, indeed, created b’tzelem Elohim.